As school starts back up in Richmond County, students will now have an easier time finding tools to study, help with homework or preparing for college, or discovering a good novel to curl up with.
The Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System (ARCPLS) and the Richmond County School District announced Wednesday morning their partnership to create the Pines Library Access for Youth (PLAY) Card Program, in which every public school student in the county will be able to use their school ID to access resources, digital and physical, from Richmond County libraries, after school hours and throughout the year.
“Previously [students] had to be able to come in with a parent and show their proof of residency in order to get a [library] card,” said Malinda Cobb, associate superintendent of academic services. “For some of our students that was a barrier, but with this opportunity we are able to take the information we have on our students already…They can access this digital card just using their student information.”
Using their PLAY Cards, children can check out up to five books, including audiobooks, at a time from the library system’s catalog.
One of the aims of the program is to encourage local learners toward literacy, said ARCPLS Outreach Manager Erin Prentiss.
“We want people to be lifelong readers. That means that we want them to read not just for assignments, but for fun, to grow their background knowledge,” Prentiss said.
Kids can also improve academic skills, test prep for AP courses or learn up to 70 languages via digital library databases, like the Learning Express Library and Mango Languages.
“It’s huge because our students also have to learn how to really be good researchers, and really understand how to find information,” said Cobb. “Through this partnership, we’ve made sure to make some connections with all of our media specialists, as well as the resources here in the public library system. Because we do want our students to be able to be good researchers as well as there is an abundance of information for our young people.”
Both Prentiss and Cobb note that the school district and the ARCPLS began talks about launching a digital access program for Richmond County students some time before the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted early development efforts.
“The school system had a lot to do at the time, and so [ARCPLS] started negotiations with the Georgia Public Library Service,” said Prentiss, adding that the partnership was able to move forward just in time for the “summer slide” toward fall.
“The reading that you do that’s of your choice, you just get so much out of it,” she said. “We don’t want people to associate reading with, ‘oh, it’s something I have to do.’ We want them to want to, and this gives children the opportunity to come here check out the books and just enjoy themselves enjoy the freedom here.”
For more information on the PINES Play Card program, visit https://www.rcboe.org/Page/83105.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
